Secondary electric clock



'(No Mo dl.)

J". F. HEDGE, Jr.

SECONDARY ELECTRIC CLOCK.

No. 352,320. Patented Nov. 9, 1886.

g Y ia/27L fffleclye UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.)

JOHN F. HEDGE, Jlt, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR TO THE SYNCHRONOUS TIME COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

SECONDARY ELECTRIC CLOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 352,320, dated November 9, 1886.

Application filed August 17, 1886. Serial No. 2ll,l20.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN F. HEDGE, J11, a citizen of the United States, residing in Providence, in the county of Providence and State 5 of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Secondary Electric Clocks, of which the following is a speci ficat-ion.

My invention relates to the class of clocks or [O time-indicators in which an electromagnet is operated by periodic electric. impulses automatically sent by a distant master-clock; and its object is to provide a movement which shall operate with certainty and be securely locked between the several actuating impulses.

The invention consists, principally, in a novel locking device directly connected with the armature or armature-lever of the electro-magnet,

so that when the latter is operated in the for ward direction it gives the required forward movement of the wheel and arbor carrying the hands, and when the lever goes backward it prevents any movement in either direction until the next impulse arrives.

In the accompanying drawings,which illustrate my invention, Figure 1 is a rear elevation, and Fig. 2 a side view,of a clock-movement.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the driving wheel of the train, which is in this case fixed upon the minute-hand arbor; and A, the intermediate wheels for causing the hands to move with the accustomed relative rapidity.

The electro-magnet Bis used to drive the wheel, and is included in the main-line circuit,

3 5 which contains the circuit-closer of the primary or master clock. The electro-magnet B is provided with an armature, b, to which is attached the extension or lever C. The armature is pivoted at c in such manner as to approach closely 0 to the poles p of the electrdmagnct whenat the forward limit of its movement. The armature and lever are normally held away from the poles of the magnet by means of the spring 8. The lever C extends somewhat above the upper edge 4 5 of the wheel A, and carries the pawl (Z, pivoted atone end loosely at d, at the top of the lever C. The other end of the pawl (Z rests upon the periphery of the w heel A, above the center therei of, and by gravity falls between the cogs. Opposite the center of the wheel A, at one side,

(N0 model.)

the lever C carries the catch 6, rigidly attached thereto, and normally points to aspace between two cogs. The upper side of the catch e is beveled and the lower side flat, as shown at e. Bc-

low the wheel A a lever, L, is loosely pivoted A at Z, and has at its outer and heavier end the catch Z, while its other end, Z is curved and passes through, preferably, a slot, 0, in the lever C. .Normally the catch Z at the outer end ofthe lever L is held in engagement with the cogs on the wheel A, and this is effected by the upper edge of the slot 0 pressing upon the curved portion Z When the electro-magnet is vitalized, as is shown in the drawings. the armature will be 6 drawn toward the poles p, and the pawl d will urge forward the wheel A. The first movement forward of the lever C allows the curved end Z of the lever L to move upward, and the outer end, Z, to drop by the action of gravity, thus releasing the wheel A, so that it may be moved by the pawl d. As the lever C continues to advance, the catch a enters the space next following that which it stood opposite be fore the motion commenced-that is, the for- 7 5 ward motion of the wheel brings the space 00 in position to be engaged by the catch 6, and when the lever C is at the forward limit of its motion, whereby the wheel A has been moved forward a distance equal to one tooth or cog, 8 the lower or flat side of the catch e rests against the upper side of the cog. The forward motion of the wheel is thuslimited, and the wheel A is locked as long as the magnet remains vitalized. WVhen the current ceases, the armature and lever are forced backward by the spring 8. The upper side of the slot cpresses against the curve Z and carries it downward. The end Z therefore rises and engages the cogs of the wheel A just as the catch 6 passes out 0 of engagement. The wheel A therefore and the clock-hands are again locked in position.

For the purpose of securing a steady and smooth motion of the wheel A, as well as also to more perfectly lock the same in position, the 5 spring-pawlf is applied to the side and near the center of the wheel. It is secured to the plate at f, and bears against the wheel A, engaging the ratchet a, fixed to the side. This ratchet has as many teeth or cogs as the wheel 10o A, and it will be readily seen that as the latter is moved forward, as described, by the pawl d the distance equal to one cog the end of the spring-pawl f will pass over one tooth and rest in the space behind it. This prevents any backward movement of the wheel A, if there should be such a tendency before the catch Z has come into engagement with the cogs on its periphery. It especially prevents the possi IO bility of the wheel A following the pawl d as the latter is withdrawn when the electric impulse ceases, and insures that the pawl d shall slide over one tooth during such withdrawal.

It is not necessary that the curve 1 should :5 pass through the lever O by means of the slot 0, as the same end may be effected by a pin affixed'to the lever O, and which shall engage the upper side of the curve and slide upon it in the same manner as the upper side of the slot 0.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, with the driving-wheel of an electric clock, of an electro-magnet, its armature and armature lever, a driving-pawl pivoted to said lever for actuating said drivingwheel, and the lever L, having itscurved end P in constant engagement with said armaturelever, while the other end engages with said driving-wheel.

2. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of the driving-wheel A, the electro-magnet, its armature and armaturelever, the pawl d, the catch 6, and the lever L, having the curved end Z in constant engagement with the armaturelever.

3. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of the driving-wheel A, the electro-magnet, its armature and armaturelever, the pawl d, the catch 0, the curved lever L, kept in engagementwith the armature-lever by the slot 0, and the spring-pawl f, engaging. the ratchet a.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name this 11th day of June, A. D. 1886.

JOHN F. HEDGE, JR.

W'itnesses:

DANL. W. EDGECOMB, CHARLES A. TERRY. 

